Homemade tzatziki...opa!

It's official...Greek yogurt is about as hard to find in this town as a four leafed clover or a winning lottery ticket. Yes, there are rumours that it exists "everywhere" and I have been so fortunate as to have found it on rare occasion but when you need it, when you crave it, the damn stuff is about as easy to locate as a talking unicorn.

In an attempt to replace my diminished yogurt stock I picked up plain pro-biotic organic yogurt instead of my beloved creamy vanilla flavored deliciousness of the Greek variety. It was an act of sheer desperation I tell you and I paid the price big time at breakfast this morning. Let's face it, regular yogurt is just not as good as Greek yogurt. Its more watery and not as healthy. It's like my taste buds knew they were getting ripped off. Not to mention I got plain, which loosely translated means slightly sour and not at all a good addition to a yogurt parfait.

Monday morning breakfast fail!

Now I am not one to let $6 yogurt go to waste and did the only thing I could think of: I channelled my inner Mediterranean momma and made homemade tzatziki sauce. No biggie though.

Peel a large English cucumber and chop coarsely

Salt the cucumbers and let them strain in a colander for 15 minutes (I highly recommend that you don't skip this step. The salt will help drain the cucumbers of water that will make the sauce runny. I skipped it and I regret it.)

Add 2tsp chopped garlic (if you like garlic use 3), juice from half a lemon and 1 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped.

Throw it all in a blender or a food processor and pulse until mixed (don't over blend..again it will add to the runnyness factor. We aren't making soup here people!!)

Strain the heck out of that mixture. If you are so inclined, use cheese cloth (you professional you!). If you are like me and making this on a whim use paper towels. I use Scott brand but I guess you could get a little Bounty action going if you must.

Pick your yogurt. If you live at the end of a rainbow and can actually get Greek yogurt where you are, go for that. If not, grab plain yogurt and another roll of paper towels and get straining baby!

Once everything is sufficiently de-liquefied, mix it all together and add salt (to taste) and 1/2 a tsp of vinegar (yes, I did just get you to strain it and then ask you to add liquid. Rest assured, the irony is not lost on me)

Let everything sit and do its thing for 1 hour before serving.

And there you have it; fresh, who-cares-if-its-runny, homemade tzatzki. And if you're a big girl like me you'll dip chips in it and call it dinner and not even care if your mom is reading this ...

Mom..if you're reading this I had spinach at lunch I swear!!!

'καλή νύχτα'. Pronounced cahlee-neet-ah. In other words, goodnight!!


So tell me, are you picky about certain foods? When you find something you love will replacements just not do??